Better WorkImproving working conditions and promotingcompetitiveness in global supply chains

Overview

Better Work

• Partnership programme of the ILO and IFC• Global-level governance:

– Management Group– Advisory Committee

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– Advisory Committee• Impact Assessment: ongoing global and country-

specific• Public reporting

Better Work Around the World

• Currently in the garment sector in Cambodia (Better Factories Cambodia), Haiti, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, Nicaragua and VietnamVietnam

• Conducting a feasibility study to implement in Bangladesh garment sector

• Exploring expansion to other sectors: electronics, agribusiness, tourism

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LABOUR STANDARDS

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Enforcement Social DialogueSector-Based SchemeS

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Programme Stakeholders

Better Work Better Work

Government(PAC)

Government(PAC)

International Buyers

International Buyers

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Better Work Country

Programme

Better Work Country

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Manufacturers(PAC)

Manufacturers(PAC)

Workers/Unions(PAC)

Workers/Unions(PAC)

BuyersBuyers

PAC: Project Advisory Committee

Services

How do we do it?

Integrated approach to improvement:

�Assessment establishes a baseline�Advisory services help factories make

improvements, with ongoing technical advice

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improvements, with ongoing technical advice and inputs

�Training services provide a deeper level of instruction in key areas needed by each factory

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Baseline Assessment ServicesBetter Work helps factories identify areasof non-compliance with:

International Labour Standards• Child Labour• Discrimination

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• Discrimination• Forced Labour• Freedom Of Association and Collective Bargaining

National Labour Law• Contracts and Human Resources• Working Time• Compensation and Benefits• Occupational Safety and Health

Advisory ServicesTailored to address specific needs of

each enterprise• Establish Performance Improvement Consultative

Committee (PICC), with management and union/worker representatives

• Facilitate PICC to develop and implementimprovement plans

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improvement plans • Identify targeted training needs• Provide bi-annual progress reports on improvements

** A Better Work subscription offers 10 days/year of advisorywork, including: in-person meetings, coaching sessions, phone/e-mail support and good practice resources.

Training Services

Improve compliance and competitiveness:• Delivered by accredited training partners• Highly participatory approach

Key courses:• Supervisory Skills Training

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• Supervisory Skills Training• Workers’ Training (soap opera-style videos &

comic books for large-audience instruction)• Occupational Health and Safety• Workplace Cooperation• Negotiation Skills

Benefits

Benefits for Enterprises

Stronger relationships with workers:• Increased workplace cooperation

and fewer disputes

• Increased worker productivity• Increased worker productivity

• Reduced worker turnover and fewer work stoppages

• Higher worker satisfaction

• Greater employee loyalty

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Benefits for Enterprises

Stronger business relationship with buyers:• Demonstration of factory commitment to improvement• Increasingly skilled, productive and stable workforce

** International buyer commitment to Better Work enterprises:** International buyer commitment to Better Work enterprises:� No auditing in areas covered by Better Work assessment� No terminating or significantly reducing orders based on non-compliance� Support for Better Work’s improvement planning process� Better communication between compliance and sourcing staff� Review of internal buying practices that impact compliance

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Benefits for Workers

• Better working conditions as a result of improved compliance with labor standards

• More accurate payment of wages, incl. overtime

• Enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in identifying and addressing problemsidentifying and addressing problemsthrough joint worker-mgmt committee

• Stronger ownership in the improvement process

• Greater understanding of rights and responsibilities in the workplace

• Increased skill level through quality training

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Benefits for Governments

• Strengthened social dialogue institutions (through PAC)• Increased labour administration capacity• Clarified interpretation of relevant labour law• More stable industry due to increased workplace • More stable industry due to increased workplace

cooperation• Ability to market national industry as ethical sourcing

location due to increased compliance• Development of workforce skills/capacity through Better

Work advisory and training services

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Benefits for Buyers

• Interaction with government, factories, and workers on a sustainable nationally-owned approach

• Participation in Buyers’ Forums to identifyindustry challenges and be part of the solution

• Alignment with other buyers in the same • Alignment with other buyers in the same factory to reinforce best practices

• Access to independent verified data

• Reduction in auditing pressure and costs

• Increased focus on practical long-term improvements

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Better Work Global DonorsThe Better Work global programme is supported by (in

alphabetical order):

• Australian Agency for International Development

• Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (BMZ)

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• International Finance Corporation (funds provided by IrishAid and The Walt Disney Company)

• Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland

• Funding from the United States Council Foundation, Inc. provided by select USCIB member companies

Better Work Country Programme Donors

Better Factories Cambodia• Australian Agency for International Development; Cambodian Confederation of Trade

Unions; Cambodian Labour Confederation; Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia; Royal Government of Cambodia; The World Bank

Better Work Haiti• United States Department of Labor; (funding for additional activities provided by Human

Resources and Skills Development Canada)Better Work Indonesia• Australian Agency for International DevelopmentBetter Work Jordan• Jordanian Ministry of Labour; Labour Programme of Human Resources and Skills

Development Canada; United States Agency for International DevelopmentBetter Work Lesotho• United States Department of LaborBetter Work Nicaragua• United States Department of LaborBetter Work Vietnam• Australian Agency for International Development; IFC’s Corporate Advice and

Sustainability Program, whose donors include Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

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For more information

• ILO – IFC Better Work Programme www.betterwork.orgSusanna Harkonen: harkonen@ilo.org

• ILO Helpdesk for Business on international labour • ILO Helpdesk for Business on international labour standards www.ilo.org/business

• The UN Global Compact Labour Principles, A Guide for Business Githa Roelans: roelans@ilo.org

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